Running head: Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School 1

Change Agent Case Analysis: Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School

Kendall Middlecamp

Towson University ISTC 702

Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School

Covid-19 was an extremely unprecedented time. As leaders, we can understand the

connection between our actions and the impact we have on others. Our actions of leadership

directly affected the students, parents, and other staff during a national pandemic. By

demonstrating leadership skills, we have dramatically influenced the health and well-being of

others.

Overview of Orems Elementary

Orems Elementary School is located in Baltimore County, specifically Essex. Our current

population is 363 students in grades PK-5. There are about twenty-five teachers, not including

additional adults and instructional assistants. We have about ten additional adults and

instructional assistants. We have one principal, and one assistant principal as well has two

secretaries. We also have one guidance counselor, an occupational therapist, school psychologist,

social worker, school nurse, and speech pathologist. Our building is two stories with grades 1, 2,

3, and 5 upstairs, grade 4 in the trailers, and Pre-K and Kindergarten, office, gym and cafeteria

on the first floor. Our school building is old, initially built in 1863. Our building does have

updated bathrooms as well as heating and air conditioning, although the temperatures in the

building are often difficult to regulate.

Our school population is made up of 49% white, 20% black, 16% Hispanic, and 14%

other. We are a Title 1 school. We are a school that receives financial assistance due to high

percentages of poor children in order to support the academic achievement in disadvantaged

students. Every student has FARM (Free and reduced meals) available to them. We serve

breakfast in the classroom daily as well as lunch. The overall testing rank is bottom 50% in

Maryland with 10-14% math proficiency and 15-19% reading proficiency. Every student and
Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School 3

teacher in our school has a computer, or device. The age of staff in our school building varies.

There are many teachers who are new to the teaching profession, but many veteran teachers.

Given the variety of teachers in our building, there is also a variety of technology experience of

staff. We are lucky enough to have an amazing STAT teacher. She is readily available to assist

teachers and help them navigate through any technological platform. There are a few teachers

who have Promethean Boards in their classrooms. If you do not have a Promethean Board, you

have access to an ELMO and a projector.

Covid-19

I will never forget the uneasy feelings that I felt when there was first talk about a shut

down. I can remember having difficulty sleeping on the days leading up to the official closing of

schools in Baltimore County Public Schools. My intuition is very strong, and I had a feeling that

something major was about to happen. On Thursday, March 12, 2020 Governor Hogan

announced that all schools in Baltimore County would close for at least two weeks, effective on

Monday, March 16. We still came to school on March 13. It was an earie feeling. Teachers

scrambled to print packets for children to leave with. There was such uncertainty that no one

really knew how to react. I remember thinking, “I’ll see you guys in a few weeks!” Little did I

know this would be years. Teachers, students, and staff left school on March 13, 2020 and did

not return to the school building until March 2021, some not until September 2022.

We received information in the morning from the Superintendent of BCPS. We also

received some information from our school principal. There was not many details in the

information. There were many questions. I believe that the leaders also did not know the

answers, which is why I still cannot blame them for the lack of information. No one knew what

to do or what was going to happen. Following the closing, we remained closed through spring
Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School 4

break. I remember my principal holding a Zoom meeting where we participated in an open

discussion and expressed out thoughts and feelings. He shared the current information he had,

which was not much. Fast forward to April 14, 2020 which would have been the return date to

school after spring break, still no school. We began receiving information to hold a 30 minute

class meeting, three times a week, via Google Meet. This was not instruction, it for the childrens’

emotional well-being, to check in and see their teacher online, to talk to their friends. As the

weeks went on, we slowly tried to implement small group instruction a few days a week.

Challenges arose as we realized the lack of internet among families, as well as the lack of

devices. In 2018 every student in BCPS had a device. In 2019, the county decided to only allow

five devices per classroom. At the start of the Covid-19 shutdown the children in Baltimore

County Public Schools did not all have a device. This became a major issue as we were trying to

navigate through such unprecedented times. We could not require students to login because most

students did not have access to a computer at home or internet. I remember some students joining

our meeting through their parent’s cell phone, with poor connection. As we quickly realized that

this was not going away, I believe BCPS began planning for the following school year 2020-

2021. In August 2020, teachers began planning for the opening of school to be completely

virtual. BCPS purchased student Chromebook devices for every student in Baltimore County.

Teachers and staff volunteered to distribute devices to students.

Teachers worked to connect with their new students and families prior to the first day of

school in 2020. I made phone calls to all of my new parents and children. I made sure they had

internet and a student computer and asked them what I could do to support them or anything I

should know about their child. BCPS provided internet hotspots for families without personal

internet. It was very difficult initially to plan for instruction for 25 first graders. We didn’t know
Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School 5

where to begin. Luckily, my mom was also a first grade teacher and her four teammates as well

as my teammate worked together to create and develop lesson plans by utilizing the learning

platform ActivInspire. Someone would take care of math, reading, number corner, phonics, and

small group. We really came together as a unit to provide meaningful lessons for our children.

We created morning meeting Power Point slides and prompts to help with social and emotional

learning. We utilized Schoology a great amount. Schoology allowed us to communicate with

parents, post recorded lessons, and post learning resources including choice boards, math games,

and videos. Schoology also allowed teachers to post grades and view other teacher’s course

content as well as curriculum resources. BCPS posted some baseline curriculum resources for

teachers to use during virtual instruction.

Throughout this change process my leaders were my principal and my assistant principal.

Both of my leaders were extremely supportive. They understood the demands of us teachers and

understood that whatever instruction we delivered was acceptable. They were highly

complementary and offered positive feedback whenever they had a chance to pop into my

Google Meet. I truly didn’t have much lack of leadership. My leaders offered concrete

suggestions for how to interact with families. They also provided materials and resources for us

to post for families. Our STAT teacher provided resources to support with creating lessons and

lessons for teachers to help them navigate through online platforms. Support was offered for

Schoology, Google Meet, Jamboard, and GoGuardian.

I am lucky that I have a sister and a mother who are both teachers. We were able to lean

on each other for emotional support during this time. We debriefed with each other have a long

day and could share successes and challenges, without judgement. We were able to relate to each

other and provide supports for one another. I could not be more thankful for the connection I had
Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School 6

during this time. I also developed strong relationships with my student’s parents. The parents

were extremely understanding and most parents were grateful for all of my hard work and help

during such a difficult time. I did my best to reassure parents that their children would be just

fine. I can’t imagine how parents felt about their kids missing out of in person learning. My

school administrators held open wellness meetings weekly. This allowed us as a school

community to connect with each other. We were able to share ideas and things that were working

and helping our students. We were also able to share challenges and frustrations without any

judgement.

Evaluation

I believe there are many things that went well during such an unprecedented time. BCPS

took quick action steps in order to support our children. My school administrators demonstrated

calmness and understanding to all of the teachers. This was a very difficult time for teachers and

we did not needed any added stress. They supported us and showed positivity throughout the

2020-2021 school year. They communicated information as soon as possible. Getting student

devices out to all of the schools prior to the start of the school year was impeccable. The use of

Google Meet was user friendly, as well as Schoology. We really learned all of the aspects that

Schoology had to offer during virtual learning. My colleagues and I learned to practice healthy

stress management and learned to not put too much pressure on ourselves.

One of the biggest challenges was trying to reach the children that needed the most help.

I can remember feeling helpless at certain times. The children who needed the most help had

attendance and focus issues during virtual learning. I tried to set up one-on-one times with some

students to support them. However, sometimes they wouldn’t show up. This was very frustrating

at times, especially when I spent time planning lessons. Another challenge was assessments. I
Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School 7

understand we had to have some ways to grade the students, but I truly believe giving

assessments at this time was not effective. We had issues with parents helping the kids, kids not

knowing how to navigate through the assessment, not able to properly show their work on the

computer, and kids who just would not take them at all. I remember having students read sight

words to me and parents telling them the word in the background. I believe informal assessments

were the most effective. I had my students use their white boards quite often. For example, while

solving a math problem I would have them solve it on their board and hold it up. This kept the

children engaged as well.

Since 2020, we have had to put in a lot of work to get students back where they belong.

At the start of the 2022 school year, I remember having conversations with colleagues about how

we will even be able to teach the curriculum with so many learning gaps. However, we powered

through. My first graders in 2022 did not have in person kindergarten and missing half a year of

Pre-K. There was a huge learning curve with just learning how to be in school: how to use

lockers, walking in the hallway, what a notebook is, a folder, how to raise their hands, how to be

a friend, the list goes on and on. We persevered together as a class, and as a school community.

The support from administration, colleagues, and parents was phenomenal. I still am teaching the

same kids that I was from 2022 because I looped with them and moved up to second grade this

year. They have grown so much! It makes me proud to see how much they have changed and the

impact I’ve had on them in the last 2 years.

I believe that we are almost out of the major impacts from Covid-19. The kids coming up

to us have now been in school for two years. Children are learning and making growth. While I

feel positive about where my students are today, I know that is not the case elsewhere. My

sister’s fourth graders are really struggling. They had virtual learning for their first and second
Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School 8

grade school years. They missed valuable instruction and I know she struggles with some of the

child’s major gaps in learning. She has to meet them where they are, which does not align with

the curriculum. I believe in the future, teachers may need to teach in more small groups and less

whole group instruction. By having small groups, teachers are able to meet the students on their

level and help them reach their full potential.

I feel fortunate that I am where I am now. I have loved watching my kids grow a

tremendous amount. Covid-19 was a very difficult time. I am blessed to be at such a great school

where I have support administration. We are making strides to close the gaps that students had

due to Covid-19. Test scores are improving, and children are learning. The changes and

challenges that came from Covid made me a better teacher. I have learned to have more patience,

even more than I had prior to Covid-19. I have learned new technology tools that I may have not

discovered otherwise. For example, different tools within Schoology, GoGuardian, JamBoard,

Google Meets. I have also made it a point to focus on social and emotional learning with my

kids. We have morning meetings daily, I greet each child daily at the door, I have my children

practice how to speak kindly to one another and listen to each other. We practice ways to manage

stress through stretching and breathing activities as well.

Overall, I learned so much from Covid-19. Number one, is to never take anything for

granted. I have learned the importance of building relationships with my students, as well as my

parents. I have learned the importance of taking care of myself so that I can be there for my

students. I have learned how to effectively time manage to avoid teacher burn out. I am grateful

for an amazing support system along the way and my positive attitude. I have gained so much

knowledge on the use of technology in the classroom. While I still am a firm believer in paper

and pencil, I definitely utilize the Chromebook more throughout the day. The children love
Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School 9

exploring PebbleGo. They also love using Wixie to show their work. I believe that Covid-19

exposed my young learners to technology at a young age, but I believe it had many positive

effects on the children.

References

Fulginiti, J., Lucas, T., and Ng, Greg. (2022). 2020 Timeline: Coronavirus in Maryland.

WBALTV.

Neilson, S. and Woodward, A. (2020). A comprehensive timeline of the coronavirus pandemic at

1 year, from China’s first case to present. Business Insider.

Orems Elementary School (2023). School Messenger Presence. Retrieved from

https://oremses.bcps.org/

Public School Review (2022). Orems Elementary School. Retrieved from

https://www.publicschoolreview.com/orems-elementary-school-

profile#:~:text=How%20many%20students%20attend%20Orems,students%20attend%20

Orems%20Elementary%20School.
Covid-19 and Orems Elementary School 11

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